Fixed Limit vs. No Limit

I currently am learning fixed limit and have been steadily and moderately successful so far. But I really want to learn No Limit as well. I am torn between the two styles because I enjoy fixed limit, but most people like to play no-limit (especially live games, at least where I'm from). Fixed limit seems to be mostly ann online or casino game.

My desire, yet extreme caution to learning both styles has me at a dilema, almost a crisis. I am concerned about the drawbacks of learning both at once and would like to know what they are. Is this completely unadvisable or can it be done successfully. Also, when I say learn at once, I don't mean simultaneously. I'm thinking a week or month for one style, then back, etc.

I guess my question is: what are the drawbacks for attempting to learn both styles and is it possible to overcome? Has anybody else done this?

I tried, but imo it's way to hell. You cannot switch from FL to NL in a minute. It's completely different game style. IMO It will take some time to switch and You will lose some money after every switch. If You will find that You're not enjoying FL, just switch to NL, but then You should stay at NL.
I will probably try NL in future but I found FL more interesting for me now.

BTW I'm playing NL MTTs and have no problems, but playing NL and FL cashgame together....I think allmost everybody will tell You playing only one of them is much better...

lol
I like these discussions about FL/NL; which one is better/more complicated/more funny/more anything

strat9:
I wouldn't play both at the same time. I'm playing FL SH now and definetely want to learn NL, but not sooner than I'll be able to beat certain level in FL...
I saw one stox's video (not on PS): he played 2 NL and 2 FL tables - yes, it's possible but you have to be much better than just good player..
So my advice would be to stick to FL until you can beat desired level and then learn to play different style (or switch to NL, beat it and after that learn more FL).

If your only goal is to enjoy game and you don't care how high limit you play, then play whatever you like (even both at the same time) and enjoy it - that's what poker should be about. But if you want to reach something, earn some money or it's some ego related goal, you should decide what to start with.

Jeez, is that guy, Stox, an online legend? I hear about him a lot. Would he be on any televised events. Where I'm from, poker is always on.

Anyway, I figured that sticking to FL would be the advice. My goals with poker are fairly serious and I want to play (and be good) in real life. It seems that live players are worse, but NL is by far the most popular game. If anybody other than stox has done it, let me know how you went about it. I don't plan on switching anytime soon, but it would be cool to hear about.

This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by FrozenRope: 29.10.2008 15:23.

Strat9 there are plenty of successful players here at PS as well in the online world of poker. Most successful players excel in 1 game early in their poker careers, then as they master their game of choice they branch off into other forms of poker.

I myself play FL as my main game, I have been successful thus far using every tool PS has. I do from time to time play MTT and SNG as well as NL.

However the best advice I can give is choose the game you like the most and devote time to improving your game. Use all the tools here at PS coaching sessions, articles, post hands and get active in the forums. Don't be in a hurry to move up in limits, play within your bankroll and you will get to the higher limits in time.

Stoxtrader is a very successful player and now has his own training site you can google it stoxpoker. As well Freedom25 who imho is one of the best limit players in the world. Dusty "leatherass9" Schmidt is my all time favorite player. These are just a few players that have made millions from online poker. You can to if you devote yourself to improving your game.

Thanks for the advice to those on this thread. It is helpful and more interesting than I thought the topic would be. I have been, and will continue to stick to FL. I guess I want to get into the NL stuff everytime I hear about it, which is a lot.

Originally posted by Dragar
Thing is with NL you can bluff etc. which makes it more complicated.

It's true that in FL is more difficult to bluff but the risk/reward ratio for a bluff in FL is higher than in NL. If you make a c-bet in NL you are risking 2/3 of the pot to win the pot. Your reward is not very big. In FL in a raised pot in the same situation you risk only 1 small bet to win at least 4.5 SB. The reward for a successful bluff in FL is much higher than in NL.

Originally posted by Dragar
I personally do not enjoy FL because I won't be able to keep people of flush draws etc. hence its very annoying for me.

Yes, but the opposite is also true. And I don’t understand why would you want to make the other players fold when you have a made hand and they have a draw. You want to make them fold when you have Ace high and they have small pairs, not when you have a made hand and they have draws. So it’s a good thing that they call you with draws. The bad thing is you can’t make them call more than 1 or 2 small bets as you can in NL.